FWMA Must Close Doors to Orphaned and Injured Animals after 13 Years of Service 

It is with great sadness that Florida Wild Mammal Association located in Wakulla County announces the closing of its doors to the intake of new animals.  FWMA has proudly served Wakulla and surrounding counties for more than 13 years and closing our doors to the orphaned and injured wildlife of these counties goes against everything FWMA has worked for all these years, but as of August 1st 2008, FWMA will no longer be able to provide this service.

In the past, FWMA has raised a third of its operating costs through public donations from its generous supporters in and around Wakulla County.  Another third was raised by fundraisers and special events, and the last, by a grant from a private foundation.  The loss of the grant, being a significant portion of the annual budget, has left FWMA with a huge deficit and even after making every cut possible – including suspending rescue operations, cutting student employment opportunities and discontinuing Outreach and Education Programs, we cannot continue to care for the large number of animals that come through our door.

FWMA is very concerned about what will happen to these animals, but our focus now must be on the animals currently in our care.  Most of the animals that come into the center need long-term care – meaning weeks – and often months!  Some of the animals have injuries so severe they can never be released.  The commitment to these animals has already been made and what is left of our resources will go to care for these creatures.  However, cuts have to be made there, too.

Up until last month, there were over 200 animals in residence at FWMA.  FWMA is working to reduce that number to less than 100.  Many of the permanent residents are being transferred to other education facilities across the state and across the county – some going as far away as Minnesota and Pennsylvania.  Hopefully, reducing the number of permanent residents will allow us to continue to care for those injured and orphaned animals still requiring medical attention and constant care.

Without FWMA to care for the injured and orphaned animals of Wakulla County , it will fall to Animal Control to handle these animals.  It is our belief that Animal Control does not have the manpower or facilities to care for the large number of animals that come to FWMA; over 1000 animals last year, and the money the county will have to spend to deal with these animals would be better spent by partially funding FWMA.  Florida Wild Mammal Association already has the facility and the trained staff – what they are lacking is the funds.

We are asking members of our community to write to the Board of County Commissioners asking them to support Florida Wild Mammal Association.  The service FWMA has provided to the Wakulla County is a valuable one and every effort should be made to keep FWMA in operation.  Please write your County Commissioners!  The address is:

Wakulla County Board of Commissioners
P O Box 1263
Crawfordville , FL 32326

Sample letters can be found at:  http://clearblogs.com/fwmalover .  And more information can be found on our website:  www.wakullawildlife.org

Thank You for your continued support!

On behalf of the staff, volunteers and animals of FWMA,

Judy Cooke

Click here for a photo gallery of Florida Wild Mammal Association success stories.  

This letter originally published on July 29, 2008.

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